A
couple more pages (all ten, actually) of Barry Smith/ Bill Everett art from ASTONISHING TALES 6.
ASTONISHING TALES had a Ka-Zar series in issues 1-20 beginning in 1970, the first two issues by Kirby (right before he left for DC), followed by issues 3-6 by Barry Smith (3-4 inked by Grainger, 5 inked by Giacoia) with somewhat diminishing inks. The Everett inks in issue 6 are absolutely breathtaking.
Followed by issues 7 and 8 by Herb Trimpe, and 9 by John Buscema.
Then issue 10 is the first (and only) full length 21-page story by Smith inked by Sal Buscema (who also inked most of Smith's CONAN run).
Issue 11 is Gil Kane/Giacoia.
And 12 is mostly John Buscema/Adkins, with 7 beautiful pages (reproduced in b&w from pencils) by Neal Adams!
After that, the series descended into utter mediocrity in scattered issues by Buckler, Gil Kane, and John Buscema, and a few filler pages by Jim Starlin in one issue. So while never an impressive storyline, it presented a wide range of artists, in some odd collaborations.
ASTONISHING TALES eventually reached its height (after mostly Kirby/Ayers reprint material of "IT! The Living Collosus" in 20-24) with Moench and Buckler's creation of DEATHLOK for the remainder of the series in issues 25-36.
A similar mixed bag occurred in the simultaneously published FEAR 10-19.
FEAR 10 featured some good stories, including a new Man-Thing origin story by Conway with Chaykin/Morrow art. With a great pirate story by Jack Katz, inked by Bill Everett. (Everett also did some nice inks on Kirby's THOR run, on issues 143, and 170-175.)
FEAR 11 has a really nice Neal Adams cover of Man-Thing, and a Buckler/Mooney story.
Issue 12 is Starlin inked by Buckler!
One other issue from the same period I like is JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 1 (Oct 1972).
* a Robert E. Howard adaptation with Gil Kane art, inked by Tom Palmer.
* Plus a horror story by Englehart and Ralph Reese.
* But I mention this issue mostly for the last story,
"You Show Me Your Dream..." with Starlin pencils inked by Mike Ploog! I had the pleasure of showing this story to Starlin when I met him at a Miami show. Cover-dated Oct 1972, it was one of the first jobs he did at Marvel, and a lucky break it was inked by Ploog. A great mix of styles.
Released in the same months as Ploog's first 4-issue Ghost Rider story in MARVEL SPOTLIGHT.